My thoughts and prayers remain with the innocent
Amish victims in Nickel Mines, PA. I was
traveling on the day of the shooting and heard
the news with a sense of surreal disbelief. I
simply couldn't realize it at first. Upon fully
grasping the enormity of the horrific crime, I
desperately longed for the solitude of our farm
that I might privately grieve and pray for those
gentle people, the dear children deeply
terrified and shocked - the poor victims who
died; the sad, shocked, grieving victims who
survived.
Never has my heart been so humbled as by the
forgiving attitude of the Amish community and
families who personally lost so much and yet
extended such tender concern even to the family
of the gunman. What an extraordinary example
they gave us all. To have such deep abiding
faith, to really live the true meaning of
Christ's message of forgiveness, without a
grudge, was such a remarkable act of Christian
love that it will inspire me for a lifetime.
I am greatly comforted by the fact that their
faith will see them through this almost
incomprehensible tragedy. It is reassuring to
know that when people really turn their burdens
over to the merciful grace of God through his
Son Christ Jesus, He will bless them and be
their comforter - He will give them peace and
the refreshment of His love with the true hope
of His promise to mankind.
Revenge really is not ours in any matter. Our
place as faithful, humble followers of Christ is
to put our faith in Him and His life example and
teachings in all things no - matter - what.
Christ did not carry a weapon. On the night
Christ was betrayed in the garden, in Matthew
26:52, when one of His disciples cut of the ear
of the high priest's servant, Christ clearly
told that disciple "Put up again thy sword into
his place: for all they that take the sword
shall perish with the sword." Then He healed the
ear of that servant. Christ's message was one of
forgiveness and peace - His was the ultimate
example of true surrender of self to God's plan.
Christ did not seek revenge, He forgave his
enemies even from the cross and prayed for them:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not
what they do." (Luke 23:34) Mohandas
Gandhi said, "The weak can never forgive.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
I would add to that - forgiveness is the
attribute of the strong of Christian faith.
My commitment to be a Christian ambassador of
peace is ever more strengthened by the example
of those Amish parents who suffered the ultimate
unthinkable loss, that of beloved children being
brutally murdered. Their complete trust in God
is the most remarkable thing I have witnessed in
a long, long time. I am grateful for what their
faith has taught me because they live the true
essence of Christianity - and that is
forgiveness and faith in God's mercy and
promises. Truly Christ-like. How grateful I am
for their example.
And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. -
Ephesians 4:32
And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain: for the former things are passed
away. - Revelation 21:4
Kimberly Anne Makela
Dona nobis pacem
Tenth Month, 2006
